The Argentine Gulf of Northern Patagonia is a unique and important natural habitat. It has a rich biodiversity, breathtaking landscapes, and globally protected areas. Researchers from all over the world come here to study the large bird colonies and marine mammals such as the southern right whale, a thermometer of the health of these crystal waters.
This region is threatened by overfishing and marine litter. The death of whales in 2022 and the stagnation of their population growth after decades of conservation efforts are alarming signs. On the beaches of Chubut, fishing waste (plastic boxes and fishing nets) washes up with the tides and pollutes the resting places of the animals. There are no measures to prevent this scenario.
But overfishing not only affects marine wildlife. It also causes losses of almost 2.6 billion annually in Argentina's economy.
When the world is debating the need to protect the oceans, looking at whales as a thermometer for the health of the planet is urgent. "If we want to save the whales, we must stop overfishing," says marine scientist Susannah Buchan.
This project will investigate the chain of events that is leading to the impending collapse of this region: Overfishing and unreported fishing in the area, the effects on wildlife and the local economy, and what efforts are being made to prevent it. The marine animals that suffer the consequences of this model are the ones that give a face to this problem.
